Eminem has "zero recollection" of recording controversial Rihanna lyrics for "Things Get Worse"

05 January 2021, 11:42 | Written by Cerys Kenneally

(News)

(Eminem)

Eminem has discussed the controversial Rihanna lyrics that appeared on a leaked version of "Things Get Worse" in 2019, saying he has "zero recollection" of recording it.

Last month Eminem surprise-released his Music to Be Murdered By - Side B album, which featured collaborations with White Gold, Dr. Dre, DJ Premier, Skylar Grey and Ty Dolla $ign.

On White Gold collaboration "Zeus", Eminem apologised to Rihanna for the lost version of "Things Get Worse" that leaked in 2019. "Things Get Worse" was originally recorded for his 2009 album Relapse, but was reworked and released by B.o.B in 2011.

The lost version that leaked in 2019 saw Eminem rap about siding with Chris Brown over the Rihanna assault incident. Eminem raps on "Zeus", "But, me, long as I re-promise to be honest / And wholeheartedly, apologies, Rihanna / For that song that leaked, I'm sorry, Ri / It wasn't meant to cause you grief / Regardless, it was wrong of me, but."

During a new discussion for Sirius XM’s Shade 45 programme, Eminem discussed his apology on "Zeus" and how he can't actually remember ever recording those leaked lyrics. Eminem told host Gray Rizzy, "Honest to God, I told Paul [Rosenberg] this when it first happened. I was like, first, I didn’t know how somebody got it. Second of all, I have no…zero recollection of even remembering doing that verse. Like, the rhyme scheme doesn’t even sound, like, familiar to me. So I was caught off guard, too. I was like, 'What the fuck?! I said that?'"

He added, "I said it and I was wrong for saying that, it was fucking stupid. A lot of times, especially with the Relapse record, when I was first started learning how to rap again because of the drug situation that I went through and having to relearn a lot of things, that was one of those things that was like, 'Well, if it rhymes, say it'. I think being able to look back - I mean that’s not even an excuse but i'm just saying like, there was a phase I was going through with that Relapse record, I don't know, it was one of those things I think I just said it 'cause it rhymes. I’m sure looking back now I should have thought better of it."